"He was a remarkable man, a wonderful man, a great friend and we shall all miss him greatly."

Sir Cyril also chose five hymns for his service, including Abide With Me, and the Frank Sinatra classic My Way, which was sung as the coffin was taken out of the room.

Chris Davies MEP spoke of the politician's "prolific letter writing skills" and said he regularly sought political advice from him.

More than 400 people filled the town hall for the service, while hundreds more lined the streets outside to listen on loudspeakers.

Sir Cyril's nephew, Craig Smith, told the congregation that the politician was like a second father to him and his siblings.

Brothers 'inseparable'

He said: "He was there when we needed him most. Uncle Cyril taught us to treat people how we wished to be treated ourselves.

"I know my dad Norman will miss him more than anyone. They were inseparable."

Image caption
The celebration service took place at Rochdale Town Hall

Sir Cyril was famously outspoken and could be disdainful of Westminster, once branding Parliament as "the longest-running farce in the West End".

According to Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, the politician commanded huge affection within the party.

Speaking after the service, he said: "When I got elected as the youngest Liberal MP, he became an uncle figure offering advice, being there to say 'that's good lad' or telling me off and putting me on the right lines.

"He was somebody who gave people tough love, he knew that sometimes if you were to benefit he had to give you a talking to, but he had really clear, high standards and principles.

"But above all he remembered he came from Rochdale and was in politics to help people from the bottom up, to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor and help make Britain a fairer place."

Sir Cyril was knighted in 1988 and was awarded the MBE in 1966, when he also served as mayor of Rochdale.